日韩一中文字暮2019

The royal dinner went well. The cooks prepared all the best dishes as if they were throwing a small party. Everything was special and even the dining room was decorated with extra flowers. It looked so beautiful.

The blended family had dinner in a warm atmosphere. Sophie couldn\'t help but smile to herself when she looked around her and saw everyone that she held dearly in her heart. She had always dreamed of someday having all her family with her, surrounded by peace and love.

However, when that finally happened, it felt so weird.  Weird but not in a bad way.

She thought she just needed to get used to it. Sophie stole a glance at her mate who was sitting upright beside her and focused his attention on his food, while the queen livened up the dining table by talking with Luciel and Jan. Nicholas was not as talkative as Sophie remembered, but it might be due to the fact that both he and Leland were still feeling awkward sharing the family between them.

It was all because of Luciel and Jan, Sophie realized. If she didn\'t give birth to Nicholas\' sons seven years ago, whatever connection she had with him would be permanently severed after she married Leland. That was the right thing to do.

However, the two boys became a bridge that would always connect Sophie to Nicholas and made them family. Since Leland raised Luciel and Jan and acted as their father before Nicholas was back into the picture, Leland was also connected to Nicholas through the twins.

Whether they liked it or not, this was what fate had arranged for them.

"The food is amazing, thank you for having us," said Sophie politely after they finished dinner. "I am sorry, I have to go back to our room and check the little ones."

"It\'s our pleasure having you here," said Queen Marianne. "Can I take Luciel and Jan to the library and get a new book to read for their bedtime?"

"You are too kind, Your Grace," said Sophie with a smile. She turned to her sons and saw they both beamed in happiness. "I will see you later in your room."

Luciel and Jan nodded in unison. They already had their own room in the royal palace and it was close to the king\'s tower. However, since Sophie stayed in a room in Queen Marianne\'s tower, they were given a new room next to their mother. This small thing meant a lot to Sophie and she really appreciated the thought Nicholas put into it.

Sophie stood up, followed by Leland.  He nodded to Nicholas before walking out of the dining room, holding Sophie\'s hand intimately.

Queen Marianne could see from the corner of her eyes that Nicholas looked away, focusing his attention on the oak tree outside the window. She could understand what her son was feeling.

It was easy to see that Nicholas still loved Sophie. However, he had to bury his feelings for her in the deepest part of his heart. It was very unfortunate.

Would Nicholas ever be happy? Queen Marianne wondered.

She remembered her late husband who had only loved one woman his whole life. Even after more than twenty years together, he could never love his own wife. His heart was buried together with the woman he loved, many, many years ago.

Would Nicholas be like his father? If that was so... Queen Marianne thought it wouldn\'t be fair to the woman he would someday marry.

She already empathized with her future daughter-in-law, whoever she would be. That young woman would live a loveless marriage because Nicholas would not ever love her, no matter how good she was as a wife and even if she gave birth to his child.

But... what would people think if Nicholas decided not to marry anyone? People would think something was wrong with him. They already talked so much when Nicholas was engaged to Karenina for many years but still didn\'t show any signs that he would marry her.

"I have to go now and check something," Nicholas said to his mother, giving an excuse to leave the dining room. "Good night, Mother."

"Good night, Nicholas," said the queen softly. She really wanted to hug her son at this moment, however, she didn\'t want to make things awkward for him. So, she only smiled and pretended everything was fine.

"Welcome home, Luciel and Jan," said Nicholas to his sons. He got up and rubbed their heads. "I will see you guys in the morning."

"Good night, Dad," said the boys in unison.

Nicholas smiled and then walked out of the dining room.

***

Sophie\'s room in the queen\'s tower was really special. It was located on the second floor. The room was huge with a tall ceiling and two floor-to-ceiling windows that opened to a huge balcony.

Her bed was located in the center of the room with a big fluffy rug on the wooden floor. The furniture was plated with gold and everywhere she looked, there were flowers. She felt like a royal princess.

The room she shared with Leland in the manor was beautiful too, but she didn\'t decorate it with so many flowers or girly things because she wanted her husband to enjoy the room too.

"How can he find these many flowers in such a short time?" Leland commented flatly when he closed the door behind him.

"He?" Sophie turned to look at Leland and she chuckled to see his displeasure. "Do you think the king intentionally had the room prepared like this?"

Leland shrugged. "Who else?"

"Uhm, I don\'t know... maybe the butler or the queen?" asked Sophie. "I don\'t think the king has that much time in his hands to micro-manage how the guest rooms should look like."

After they arrived at the royal palace two hours ago, Nicholas hosted them in his study to have tea and snacks together, while the butler prepared rooms for Sophie and the boys. Seeing how fresh all the flowers in this room were, Leland could see that the king intentionally asked his butler to prepare them for his guest, Sophie.

Leland\'s sense of smell was very sharp. He could smell flowers only from Sophie\'s room. Even Queen Marianne\'s room didn\'t have flowers in it except for several jasmines in a pot by her window.

Leland didn\'t like it that Nicholas seemed trying to impress Sophie. Even though he might have done it with innocent intention, Leland still hated it.

"Do you want me to ask the butler to take them out?" Sophie said with a chuckle. "I can tell him that I am allergic to certain flowers."

Leland shook his head. "Don\'t. They are beautiful."

Sophie agreed that the flowers in her room were beautiful. They also made the air smell so good.

She took Leland\'s hand and pulled him to the bed and sat there. The man sat beside her. He pulled Sophie\'s waist to get closer to him and then wrapped his hands around her.

"Please don\'t feel impressed by whatever he would do for you," Leland whispered in Sophie\'s ear. His hot breath tickled her earlobe and Sophie squirmed a little.

She looked at him and smiled broadly. "Are you jealous, Leland?"

Leland nodded honestly. "I am."

Sophie turned around to him and cupped his face lovingly. "I am glad to know you\'re jealous. I don\'t know how to read your thoughts and understand your feelings. So, I always appreciate your honesty in sharing your feelings with me."